News

Speedwatch.

A small, but hardy group of volunteers carried out four Speedwatch sessions during the first week of November. Most motorists were driving within the speed limit . Thank you
for your consideration. A few were travelling in excess of 30 mph. Reports of our Speedwatch session are forwarded to the Police who will contact those who persistently drive too fast. We will
be repeating the exercise from time to time. If you can spare an hour or two to join us please contact janet.eustace@yahoo.co.uk

Message from Highways

What: Road closure for
carriageway patching

Where: A436 Oddington
Road

When:
24th to 29th May (not including weekends), from 0700 to 1900 daily

We will shortly be patching sections of the carriageway at the above location to repair localised faults and improve the
condition of the road.

To ensure the safety of road users and our workforce, it is necessary for us to close the road to through
traffic while this work is being done because of the road width and machinery that will be used.

We will be patching in multiple locations along the stretch of road marked in red on the map
overleaf. Each area being patched will need its own localised road closure. Although we can’t give exact times and locations for these localised closures, we will
have a gateman at each end to manage access for residents when it is safe to do so. There may be some short delays and your patience is appreciated.

Pedestrian access will be maintained throughout.

ODDINGTON FESTIVAL

SUNDAY 24 JUNE 2018

Gardens, fete, food and drink

Raising funds for our churches and for the village.

If you would like to help please contact Sara on squaregriff@yahoo.co.uk

ST NICHOLAS CHURCH
ODDINGTON

2017

THE SCAFFOLDING HAS BEEN REMOVED AND THE CHURCH IS NOW READY TO GO!

Thanks to Margaret Lewis and Rufus the roof replacement and the restoration and cleaning of the doom painting is now completed. The scaffolding has been removed and all the pews and chairs are back
in place so we are now back to normal. It looks fantastic! We all owe Margaret and Rufus a huge vote of thanks for all they have done to deal with the project management and grant applications so
patiently and diligently.

We have our Family Harvest Festival on Sunday 17th September at 11amand we hope for a good attendance and very much welcome
children. Richard Rendall is taking the service. Any help with flowers or fruit and vegetables would be appreciated, please contact Jane Lloyd (ljmlloyd@yahoo.com)

Our last daytime service is on Sunday 22nd October at 11am which is Holy Communion (Book of Common Prayer). We may be pushing
our luck on daylight so bring a torch in case!

Then on to St Nicholas Night service at 6pm on Wednesday 6th Decemberby
candlelight.
And our Christmas Eve service by candlelight at 11pm on December 24th

Thank you for all your support and encouragement.

ST NICHOLAS RE-OPENS

After the theft of copper from the nave roof in February 2016 and the subsequent water damage to the Doom painting, repairs are now complete and we able to
reopen our church.

Thanks to a very generous grant from The Listed Places of Worship Roof Repair Fund we have replaced the copper

with stainless steel which has very little second hand value.

Fortunately the conservators were able to repair the damage to the painting and the whole area has been thoroughly cleaned. At the same time other
paintings in the side chapel have been restored where possible. This work has been funded by a grant from the Gloucestershire Historic Churches Trust and with a number of private
donations.

We are most grateful to all those who have contributed to both projects and we are very happy that we can once again open the church for
visitors.

IT’S ALL BUBBLES AND BERRIES

AT THE ODDINGTON VILLAGE FAYRE

SUNDAY 25TH JUNE 2017, 1 pm-4 pm

Come and enjoy a ‘berry nice’ Sunday afternoon at the Oddington Village Fayre on
25thJune 2017. Held in the field behind the Village Hall it’s free entry
from 1.00pm. Already famous for its ‘Strawberry Fayre’ the Oddingtons have decided to tantalise your taste buds even further by adding a few more ingredients into the mix and cooking up the
‘Everything Berry Fayre’. Only the juiciest and sweetest specimens will stand side by side with the ever celebrated Oddington strawberry. You will be able to enjoy newcomers such as the
‘Merry Berry’ Meringue and Mixed Berry Iced Tea or your firm favourites, thickly dipped chocolate strawberries and the unsinkable ‘Strawberries and Cream’.

Capturing your imagination this year will be a ‘Bubbleologist’ who will be taking centre
stage and performing at the Fayre. And as Happiness is…. Blowing bubbles on a summers’ afternoon, all the children will receive a free bottle of bubbles to make their own magic. Bringing
harmony to the day will be the ‘North Cotswolds’ Wind Band hopefully playing ‘I’m Forever Blowing Bubbles’ and Mr Merry who needs no introduction to the local youngsters.

The ‘Everything Berry’ Stand will be bursting at the seams with cakes, scones, meringues and
tarts oozing with fruits and cream. For the savoury choice this year hot pulled pork and all the trimmings will be served, next to the ‘Tipple Tent’ serving Pimms and Cider.

There will be plants, jams and punnets of fruit to buy, books to browse, a raffle and a
tombola as well as games and activities for all the kids.

The four-legged VIPS will round off
the day in the Grand Family Dog Show. There will be eight classes to enter including “most beautiful bitch” and “handsomest dog”. Entries are on the day from 1pm and classes start at 2.30pm.
Entry is £1 for each class.

A DAY
OF GOOD FOOD, GOOD FUN AND GOOD CHEER!

Road Closure

The road through Lower Oddington from Odd House to the Old Forge will be closed from 12 - 20 June 2017.

Oddington Housing Need Survey 2017

Martin Hutchings from the Gloucestershire Rural Community Council came to the March meeting of the Parish Council to report on the recent Housing Need Survey. You
can down load the full reply below but in summary the village has a population of 410 with 247 dwellings of which only 170 are occupied. The much higher than usual proportion of unoccupied dwellings
is due to large number of weekend homes and holiday lets. There is a predominance of small households occupying larger properties with most people owing their homes. In the survey, six people said
they were looking to move with 5 of these looking for open market properties. There was one person looking for Low Cost Home Ownership in the village.

It was
noted that on the basis of these figures it would be very difficult for the Parish Council to make a case for the development of affordable housing on a rural exception site. Martin suggested that
the best way forward would be for the Parish Council to work with GRCC and CDC Cllr Beale to encourage Bromford Housing Association not to sell tenanted houses as they fall vacant. The Council
agreed to adopt this approach.

At the October 2016 Meeting, the Parish Council agreed to carry out an Housing Need Survey for the village with the help of GRCC. All residents will be asked to complete a survey form. The results
are due in late Mach and details will be published on this page.

Village Agent

Remeber that our Village Agent, Steve Winchup, is able to help the more elderly residents in the village with day to day living. If you or your neighbour needs help please call Steve on 07798
827678

Grant for the Villager Bus

At it's September 2016 meting the Parish Council agreed a grant of £1000 to support the Villager Bus. Councillors know that this grant is particualry welcome following the loss of subsidy from the
County Council.

Strawberry Fayre

Very many thanks to all those who visited the Fayre and to those who helped in any way. The day was a great success and was enjoyed by everyone. Visit the Oddington facebook page to see
photos.

St Nicholas Church

As residents will know, St Nicholas Church has been closed since thieves stole copper from its roof, causing significant damage from flooding. The doom painting was severely marked, the pews,
kneelers and cushions are all drying out. Conservationists have inspected the damage and advised on repairs. Meanwhile the church remains closed. The cost of the temporary roof and other urgent
repairs has been met from insurance and a grant application has been submitted to cover the cost of new roof timbers and a steel covering for the roof and the result of this will be known in late
June/early July. Meanwhile the Friends of St Nicholas will be working with the PCC to raise funds and ensure the future of the lovely old church. Further details are available from Cllr Davies
peter.davis@benwellhouse.com

The Annual Village Meeting was held on 26 May. A note of the meeting which includes reports from various organisations, is below.

A big 'thank you' to Alan Cox for arranging the magnificent Beacon to celebrate the Queen's 90th Birthday and to Stow Rugby Club for allowing us to hold the event on their land. The Villager Crier
called for three cheers and we all drank the health of HRH!

Defibrillators

These have now been installed in the old phone boxes at Upper Oddington (opposite the Horse and Groom) and in Lower Oddington (by the Village Hall). Each piece of equipment is checked weekly and a
status report sent to the ambulance service. If you should ever need to use the defibs dial 999 and you will be given the code that open the cabinets. The equipment gives you instructions on how to
proceed from there.

Many thanks to all those who raised funds for the live saving equipment.

Strawberry Fayre

We are busy planning this year's fete which will take place on the last Sunday in June. If you would like to help, on the day or before the event, please contact Sue Watkin tel 830738.